As promised, here is a listing in order of the things associated with the exact phrase “by faith”.

Acts 15:9 tells us that our hearts are being purified by faith.

Acts 26:18 that we are being sanctified by faith.

Romans 1:17 tells us the God’s righteousness is revealed to us by faith so that we can live by faith.

Romans 3:22 tells us that the righteousness of Christ is upon us and is the same for everyone who believes by faith.

Romans 3:28 tells us we are justified by faith.

Romans 5:2 tells us we have access into His grace by faith.

Romans 11:20 tells us we stand by faith but not to be high-minded about it.

2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us we walk by faith.

Galatians 3:22 tells us we receive the promises by faith.

Galatians 3:26 tells us we are children of God by faith.

Ephesians 3:17 tells us Christ dwells in our hearts by faith.

I find it interesting that the most important truth is last on the list. It is because of the indwelling that all the others have been made possible. Without that we are only deceiving ourselves that we can hold those promises to be true for us. Christ makes all of it possible.

Perhaps the listing is ordered in such a manner because we can receive and believe the Word of truth before we recognize His presence. He is gentle and kind. He cares very much about this relationship and does not want to scare us or do any harm. He reveals Himself as we are ready to receive that knowledge in the way that we can receive it.

Once again, we must study His Word to discover the truth of what “by faith” is doing for us and in us.

Romans 12:3 English Standard Version (ESV) For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

This list “in Christ” contains information that holds meaning. Here they are in order of appearance.

Faith

Redemption with explanations justify, grace, gift

No Condemnation

Freedom from sin and death

Love of God

Witness

Body

Work

Scripture tells us what it means to be in Christ.

These are only the first eight things associated with being in Christ. Note carefully that faith is listed first. Nothing that follows in all 76 uses of “in Christ” is achieved without our placing our faith in Christ. “By Faith” is used in exact phrasing 36 times in the KJV. That is another list to be explored later.

Before we move on to another study let us look to this list in order and pay attention to what they means to us.

Redemption has three words that help explain how that came about. They are words that need to be studied to be understood how they work together to achieve God’s will for us. This is not a simple understanding that comes from our former life because we live in the Kingdom of God now and the bible determines what words mean.

If you feel condemned, it isn’t coming from God. That’s the work of the enemy.

We are freed from the power of sin over our lives, not the presence of sin. That has to be understood properly.

Love of God requires a response to God. Love has to be reciprocated or it isn’t true.

We are witnesses of the love of God for us in unique ways, as many ways as there are believers.

We are members of one body, His Bride, the universal church.

Last and this is important, it comes after all the others, work.

Philippians 2:13 English Standard Version (ESV) for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

God does the work because we are “in Christ”.